thanksgiving 2010

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i am thankful for :

1. ginny branch's post about napkin folding. learned a new trick.
2. the way matilda lights up all of our lives. she was so wonderful and polite through not one, but two thanksgiving dinners.

3. my mom who just painted this wall the most fantastic orangey color, i love the way it makes the chairs and my husband look. true story... my mom used to paint the walls a different color just about every week.

4. these beautiful oranges with their leaves still on. reminds me of a still life.

5. the barefoot contessa. i made her pumpkin banana mousse tart and it was a huge hit! i actually made two of them (one for each party) and the second one was made while i was talking on the phone to my dear friend claire. i woke up the next morning and it had dissolved in the fridge. still have no idea what i did wrong...

6. matt. we were really glad to get to spend time with him.

7. two tables full of insanely good food and the people i love so much.

ppssttt--------> there's stil time to win a subscription to southern flourish! the holiday issue comes tomorrow!

southern flourish giveaway

as most of you lovely people know, i along with my fabulous co-editors, have been hard at work on the holiday issue of southern flourish. i can't believe that it will be live on wednesday! this is my favorite issue by far. i was able to participate in the photoshoot for the cover story and i think you will all love it! we had some genius help from annette joseph and lara rossignol.

we are growing at a fast pace. we had 175,000 readers of our fall issue (thanks!). in order to keep growing we have decided to offer subscriptions to the magazine. for just $10 you will get the entire year of 2011 PLUS the holiday issue.

if you want to subscribe before december 1 you can get the subscription for just $8 with the code GIVETHANKS.

here's a little sneak peek:





i am so excited about my section! you will get to spend the day in the life of 4 really rad people, i can't wait to make a wreath out of vintage ornaments, and you will love all of the handmade gifts that annette and her team put together!

i am going to be giving away FIVE subscriptions!

• leave me a comment telling me why you would like to win a subscription
• leave another comment if you follow homemade grits
• leave a separate comment if blog/tweet/facebook about this giveaway

i will be announcing the winners on wednesday, december 1. good luck!

hope you all had a lovely thanksgiving!

weekend in ellijay

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we spent the weekend celebrating my dad's birthday in ellijay, georgia. we found this magical cabin here. it was perfect weather and a wonderful way to welcome my handsome brother, jake, home from americorp!

- our incredible view. we were literally on top of rainbow mountain.

- i loved the knotty pine ceilings.

- my daddy, aging very gracefully.

- i was so excited when i found this bottle of poppy wine, and that is the best damn cake i've had in a long time. first spotted at parker's 2nd birthday party.

- rachel spent the majority of the weekend in this position. the charley harper puzzle she gave me was so hard! we gave up once we got to the sky.

- matilda looking like a little cherub in the loft. she loved climbing around up there.

- springer mountain looks like a fairy land.

- what can i say? i love this man.

- i love my family and that matilda looks touched by an angel.

{not pictured: matilda stepping in dog poop and freaking out, us having too much wine fun in the not-so-hot tub, sam's pipe being thrown over the porch railing by my assistant in crime, matilda singing in her sleep. (read: i.got.very.little.), me gagging and watching this through my fingers, and lastly the beautiful amicalola falls (i forgot my camera and my wonderful husband drove home to get it).}

what's new...

a couple of dresses i made last week. i enjoyed every stitch of these two.

my family just got back from a long weekend in the mountains. it was heart breakingly beautiful. now i have my favorite candles burning and christmas classics playing in the background. ready for all things holiday. speaking of holiday... the new rue is fantastic.

hg catalog

my friend osayi had to design a catalog for one of her classes and asked me if i would be interested in her using my shop as her inspiration. yes, please...she did such a great job. always interesting to see how someone else interprets your brand.


front/back

inside pages

gardening 101: winter greens

even though the cupboard (weird word) was literally bare, i was so thrilled to be able to walk out to my garden and snip my lunch. sam planted all winter greens for the fall/winter. we've had a healthy dose of rain, so they've been really thriving. i love having a mix of nutty chard and spicy mustard greens. they made a fantastic salad, which i topped with a pink lady.

the easiest way to clean greens is to dunk them in a bowl of water. all of the dirt sinks to the bottom. i then pat them dry with a thick dish towel and eat them right away.
ps i can not get enough of gruyere cheese right now.

1. these kitchen weapons post cards are pretty clever.
2. the new contessa cook book seems like the perfect guide to getting ready for the big day.
3. i love this modern table setting.
4. if only i could create beautiful floral arrangements a la amy osaba.


*i've been thinking about thanksgiving and what i'm going to bring to both lunch and dinner. also dreaming up ways that i would host, when the day comes.

an old friend commissioned these bloomers for her friend's new baby in london town. i wanted to try something new and decided to grow a flower on the bloomer's bum. maybe it will help the diapers smell better?

thanks to everyone that participated in the giveaway from very fine house! the winner is bri!

don't judge me, but i have discovered the joys of toddlers and tv. it's pure decompression for this girl. sesame street is educational right? the tv has been saving me from afternoon meltdowns and allowing me to get laundry, dishes, and dinner done. who's gonna argue with that?

when i was taking this picture i was caught off guard at how beautiful matilda is, that she is wearing her blonde locks in a bun, and that i still have heart fluttery moments when i look at her. it's hard to believe that she's real sometimes. i prayed so hard to be a mom. everyday brings something new. for instance the other day at parker's second birthday party matilda learned what obama says..."CHANGE."

don't forget to enter the giveaway here and check out this fabulous raffle!

giveaway from very fine house

its been a while since i've done a giveaway and the wait was worth it! my darling friend kate has opened a vintage shop on etsy, very fine house. the shop is chock full of vintage signs, letters, and other fabulous finds like this. to get everyone in the mood for the holidays she is giving away four vintage metal trays. each is 7.5 inches across, 6 inches tall.

they say: merry christmas to all, bringing in the yule log, waiting for santa claus and i’ve been very good, santa.



i envision them displaying a collection of santa photos, tiny votives, a slew of yummy appetizers, and frosty glasses of eggnog!

{to play}

1. visit very fine house and tell me your favorite thing in kate's shop
2. if you follow homemade grits, leave a separate comment for another vote
3. leave another comment if you facebook, tweet, or blog about this giveaway

the giveaway will end sunday the 14th at midnight. bon chance!

gifted mag

loving the gifted mag presented by creature comforts. after getting lost in the beautiful + airy pages i found myself completely inspired and ready to shop, wrap, decorate. it doesn't take much to get me in the Christmas spirit, but now my brain is exploding with crafty ideas!

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space

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craving: peaceful spaces for practicing yoga. with all of the hustle bustle/email/facebook/texting/phone ringing etc i just want to stretch and listen to the sound of nothing, or a trickling fountain. either one will do.

this weekend was spent dining here with good friends. omg the flank steak salad was the bomb. ps find a half off coupon here. followed by coffee and cake here. we had the best waitress in town!

the boys spent saturday resurrecting a playground for the girls. the weather has gotten so chilly, so the fabulous katie made delicious white bean chili for pre-bon fire nourishment. i had my first hot toddy. my neighbors are the best. we had quite a few laughs and even heard a few juicy stories (making out to kenny g...anyone?).

lastly, we spent sunday as a family. holy crazy concept. we went shopping together and ate together and went and celebrated parker's 2 birthday together. it was such a cute party. wish i hadn't forgotten my camera. matilda had her fair share of m&m's and was saying "i crunk" until i put her to bed and then i could hear her cackling for a good 30 minutes after...

it feels like it's midnight. time changes are so weird.


© copyright homemade grits

cozy.

after a non-stop day filled with a fantastic holiday shoot for southern flourish (seriously, get excited), i am settling in with a hot cup of tea and a super soft robe. the cooler weather has me longing for all things cozy.





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